Folding mechanism



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L. A. SCHMIDT Y FOLDING MECHANISM Filed May 24, -1921 I5 Sheets-Sheet '2@eri 23 E923., y Ep' L. A. scHMuDT FOLDING MECHANI SM Filed May 24, 19215 sheets-sheet s -Fenw M194 QW @@5 Patented Oct. 23, 1923.

UNITED STATES ra'ur LOUIS A. SCHMIDT, OFBROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB TOR. HOE AND C0., 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK.

FOLDING MECHAN'ISM.

Application led May 24, 1921. Serial No. 472,176.

To aZl whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, Louis A. SCHMIDT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Brooklyn, county. of Kings, and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Mechanism, fulldescribed and represented in the following specification and theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to certain improvements in folding mechanisms.

In certain folding mechanism,particularly rotary folders in which thesheet is taken on a folding cylinder by suitable sheet taking devicesand advanced to folding olf rolls into which it is tucked by a foldingblade, a variation in the speed of the cylinder causes an irregularityin the folding oil". of successive sheets. As for instance, with arotary cylinder at. starting or running at slow speeds the leading endof the sheet, that is the end taken by the sheet taking devices, is notadvanced past the tucking blade by the sheet taking devices quite farenough with the result that when the tucking blade acts to fold thesheet the tail end of the sheet Will lap over the head end thusproducing an irregular fold.V On the other hand, when the cylinder isbeing driven at high speeds the throw of the cylinder causes the sheetto be advanced too far past the tucking blade with -the result that thehead end of the sheet laps over on the tail end thus producing anirregular fold.

The especial object of the present invention is to provide a foldingmechanism in which there are provided means for effecting a relativechange between the sheet path and the folding mechanism as the speed latwhich the sheets advance may vary, so that successive sheets will befolded at the same point, as for instance on a transverse central line,irrespective of their speeds.

A further object of the invention is to produce such a construction inwhich this is automatically effected by the speed of the sheet advancingmeans so that the mechanism will adjust itself to fold the sheets evenlyat whatever the Speed the folder may be running, either at the start ofor when it is running at its full capacity.

A. furthe-r object of the invention is to produce a simple andeconomical construction for effecting this, particularly adapted forrotary folders and in which the mechanism and arrangement of the folder,as ordinarily designed need not be changed so that the device may beadded to folders already built as wellpas in folders of newconstrue-tion.

With these and other objects not specifically referred to in View, theinvention consists in certain novel parts and combinations, a preferredform of 'which is shown in the accompanying drawing with which theinvention will be described in detail, and the novel features thenpointed out in the claims hereunto annexed.

In these drawingsy Figure 1 is an end elevation, partly broken awayshowing the improved folding mechamsm.

Figure Q is a sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of l1` ig. 4.

Figure 3 is a view similar to F ig. 2- Showing the parts in differentposition; and

Figure 4 is a side view partially in section and partially broken away.the View being take-n on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Referring now to these drawings, the invention has been illustrated asemployed in connection With a printing machine in which sheets are cutfrom a printed web and folded. It will be understood, however, that theinvention is applicable for folding cut sheets supplied from anysuitable source.

Referring now to these dra-wings 1 indicates a frame work of anysuitable character for supporting the parts, the trame work beingarranged at the folder end of a printing machine, not illustrated, aformer 2 being shown over which a web, indicated by the letter lV, isled, between the usualdrawing off rolls 3, 4 to give the web alongitudinal fold.

In the construction illustrated this web WV has sheets cut'therefrom bysuitable mechanism. While this cutting mechanism may vary, there isprovided a cylinder 5, having the usual cutting knives 6, this cylindercooperating with a cylinder 7 provided with the usual cuttin woods 8.The' cylinder 5 is shown as ha f the diameter of the cylinder 7, and thelatter cylinder is provided with a pair of cutting woods, a sheet thusbeing cut from the web at each revolution of the cylinder 5 and eachhalf revolution of cylinder 7. The cylinder 5 may also act as acollecting cylinder if desired', being provided -with sheet takingdevices, such as pins 9, operated by arms 10 on rock shaft 11 suitablycontrolled by a cam roll 12 in the usual manner.

llfhe drawing off rolls 3, d act as usual in this type of machine todetermine the `length of the sheet to be cut,'these rolls forwardmg asufficient amount of the web to provide a sheet offkthe required length,and the speed of these rolls is so timed with relation to the cuttingmechanism that the cutters operate after a predetermined length of webhas been forwarded, the cut always taking place after this predeterminedsheet length hasv been fed past the cutters.

The folding mechanism by which the sheets are given a transverse foldmay be of various characters, and the sheets may be advanced to thisfolding mechanism in various Ways. ln the particular constructionillustrated, the folder is shown as a rotary folder, the cylinder 7,before referred to, be-

` ing provided with sheet talng devices, as

pins 13, 14, and a rotary ,tucking blade 15 co-operating with a pair offolding ed rolls is desired one set of 16, 17. hen collecting p .1 d

are si ence as 1S they pins of cylinder usual.

As this rotary cylinder 7 is started upthe speed of the cylinder isrelatively slow.- This results in the leading end of the sheet not beingtaken quite far enough at the time the tuclnng blade acts to make thefold with a result that the sheet is not folded on its transverse centerline and one end overlaps the other and an irregular fold produced. Thesame is true when the cylinder is speeded up to high capacity, only inthis case the sheet is carried by momentum of the cylinder too farbeyond the tucking blade at the time it makes the tuck sovthat the headend of the sheet overlaps the tail and irregular folded products areproduced.

lin accordance with the invention means are provided for eecting achange in the sheet path relative to the folding olf blade so that thefolding ed blade will always act at the same point in the sheetirrespective of the sheet speed. While this may be done in various ways,in the best construction this is accomplished by varying the length ofthe sheet path, the folding mechanism per se maintaining their regularpositions, and

4by such construction a very simple Way of yeffecting the result isprovided. ln the particular construction illustrated, therefore, meansare provided for lengthening or shortening the path the sheet travelsbeyond the tucking od point, and as illustrated, this isdone byincreasing or decreasin the diameter of the c linder so that the hea endof the sheet wil have a longer or shorter path to travel before thetuclring blade takes it o. ln the specific mechanism illustrated foreffecting this, the cylinder is provided with two flattened surfaces ordats marked 18 lil-and (zo-operating with these flattened portions aremovable members which may be arranged to be moved inside the line oftheflats or outwardly beyond them to the extent desired, 'lhese movablemembers may be of various types, andmoved in-various wa s for increasingor decreasing the cylinder iameters. ln machines lembodying theinvention in its best form, however, these means will be such .as toeect the movement of the members automatically in accordance with theincrease or decrease of the cylinder speed, the members being moved tolengthen the sheet pathat lowcylinder speed and to shorten the sheetpath at high cylinder speed., As illustrated the members are in the formof fingers 20, 21;- 'llhe number of these lingers may of course bervaried, but as shown there are provided two sets of four llingers each.These lingers are hooked shaped, as indicated at 22 andthe Shanks of the-hoolrs are secured on rock shafts 23, one of the roch shafts beingprovidedv for each set of ngers, and suitably mountedin bearings in theheads 2t of the cylinder;

rllhese rock shafts 23 are operated vto move the fingers by a-governin'mechanis'in con-V trolled by the speed `of" he'` cyliiiider.A vAa shownthis governing mechanism includes arms 25 mounted on the shafts, whicharms carry wei hts in the form of balls 26. As the cylin er rotates andits speed varies these balls are thrown in Vor'out-by centrifugal forceand rock the shafts to move the fingers corresponding to the cylinderspeed.

ln the osition of the parts shown in Fig. 2 it 1s assumed that thecylinder is operating at slow speed and consequently they sheetv path isthe longest, the fingers being in their outermost position, and thegovernors are controlled so that at this slow speed the shafts will berocked to cause the arms to assume this position. While thisV 25, beforereferred to, carry blocks 27 having short pins 28, these blocks and pinsforming seats for one end of springs 29, and the other ends of thesexsprings bear against flanged studs 30 suitably j secured in thecylinder wall. rl`lhese springs tend to throw the arms inward ,and thusroch the shafts 23 to move the fingers 20 outwardly the length of thesheet path. ln order that the shafts shall` not be rocked `too far,adjustable stops 31 are provided mounted in brackets 32 secured to aflange 33 on the head of the cylinder, the side of the blocks 27opposite the springs taking against these stops.

`Witl1 the construction described, a very simple mechanism has beenprovided for varying the length of the sheet path with respect to thefolding oli' point, so that a sheet will be folded on a given line andan even fold given to the sheet irrespectiveof thecylinder-speed, andfurthermore, this variation of the sheet path is automaticall effectedaccordingto the speed at which the cylinder is driven.

The folding blade is operated as is in rotary folders, being driven by aear 34 on one end of the bla shaft 35 on w ich the folding blade ismounted,` this gear 34 meshing with an-internal gear 36 suitably xed inthe frame of the machine. lThe folding cylinder is driven from a' shaft38 suitably ]ournaled in vthe machinefframe,

.. this shaft being driven in any suitable .man-

f structions suitable Websguides 49, fwi1l be.

ner from a power shaft of the machine. This shaft at one endcarries -agear 39 which meshes withvageanlO-on the shaft41 by which one ofthefolding off rolls, as the roll 16, before referred to,r is driven. Thesetwo rolls are intergeared to. rotate'together in op itev directions vbgears 42 one of whichplibs shown in Fig.y4. The shafts 4 3 which carry'the' pins 13, 14, before r'eferred to, are .supported in the heads 24 ofthe cylinder 'and are operated in any suitable manner, as by a cam 44-secured in the side frames before referred to.

` From the .foldin rollers 16, 17, `the folded sheets are de ivei'ed in:my suitable manner as by a ily delivery 45 from which the are removedby belts 46..

f desired, a second web may be associated with the web `W,such web beingindicatedv by the letter- W, being passed-into the folder over a guideroll 47 supported in bracketsl 48 supported from the: frame of themachine, the associated'` webs being cut by the mechanismbefore'referred to and `folded, or vif desired collected and thecollected products folded. In the best conprov'idetl located below thesheet paths `aroimd the folding cylinder, these ides being"v suitablysupported in the side rames of the machine.

. While the-invention has'bcen shown and described'in its preferredform, it will be.

understood 'that various' changes and `vari-l ations may he made thespeciticconstruction' .of the parts, and in the-specific constructionforvarying r#the llength of the .sheet path, .and the invention as definedin the appended claims-will be' understpod' to include vauch variationsof the structure and arrangementsof the parts. l

1. The combination of means for advancing sheets atdid'erent speeds,folding mechanism, and means for effecting arelative change between thelsheet /path and folding mechanism to cause theyfold'to'takc place at thesame point in'suocessive sheets irrespective of their speed.l 2. Thecombinationof means for. advancing sheets at different speeds, foldingmechanism, and-means actuated by speed variation of the advancing meansfor eifectin a relative 'change between the sheet path-an foldingmechanism whereby the fold is caused to take place at same point insuccessive sheets irres tive of their speed. 3. The combination of meansfor advancing sheets at different speeds, folding mechanism, and meansfor varying the length of the sheet path to cause the fold to take placeat the same point 'in successive sheets lrres ective of their speed. l

.4. e comblnation of means for advancing sheets at different speeds,folding mech-4 anism, and means actuated by speed variation of theadvancing means for varying the length of the sheet path to lcause thev"fold to take place at the same point in successive .sheetsirrespective of' their speed.

5. The combination-of means for advanc-- ing sheets at, diferent speeds,folding mechanlsm, and means vfor lengthening the sheet' path when theadvanolng means is operating slowly, and for shortening the sheetv pathwhen operating at high speeds to cause the fold to talrexplace atfthesame l'point in successive sheets irrespective of their speed. i

6. The combination of means for advancing sheets at different speeds,foldin mechanlsm, and means actuated by spee variation of the advancingmeans to lengthen the vsheet path at slow speeds and -toshortenvvthe'sheet path at high speeds tocause the l 'fold to take placent thesame point' in sucv cessive sheets irrespective of their speed.' l

7. The combination of a rotary carr1er,

'l sheet holding devices thereon, a folding mechanism, means forvarying'thelength of the sheet path on thecarer'as the car'- rier speed varies,and means for controlling the. path length varying means.

8. The' combination ofl a rotary carrier, lsheet holding devices.'thereon,4 a folding mechanism, means for v'varying the length,

sheet holding ldevices' thereon, a folding' mechanism, means. for varinthe diameter of thecarrier to .vary t e lgength lof the sheet path, asthe carrier speed varies, land means for'controllingthe varying means.

' 1 1. The combination of -a rotary carrier, .sheet holding" devicesthereon, a folding mechanism, means for varying-the cliaxx'ie-` of thecarrier. tov vary t e eiigth of the las sheet path as the carrier speedvaries, and means operated by the carrier speed for controlling thevarying means.

12. The combination of a rotary carrier,

sheet holding devices thereon, a yfolding mechanism, means for varyingthe d1ame.

ter of the carrier to vary the length of the sheet path, and acentrifugal governor for controlling the varying means.

13. The Vcombination of a rotary carrier,

sheet yholding devices thereon, a folding `mechanism, fingers movablebeyond the surface of the carrier for varying the length of the sheetpath, a rock shaft on which the lingers are mounted and a centrifugalgovernor for rocking the shaft. e

16. Thecom'bination of a rotary carrier, sheet holding devices thereon,a folding mechanism, a member movable beyond the surface of the carrierfor varying the length of the sheet path as the carrier speed varies, acontroller for the member, and means for causing the controller tonormally hold the member in its out position.

17. The combination of a rotary carrier, sheet lholding devices thereon,a folding mechanism, a member. movable beyond the surface of the carrierfor varying the length of the sheet path, a controller for the member,and a spring for causing the controller to normally hold-the member inits out positi'on.'

18. The combination of a rotary carrier, sheet holding devices thereon,a folding mechanism, a flat on the carrier, a member movable from aposition within the line ofl the flat to a position Ibeyond the surfacethereof to vary the length of the sheet path, 'and a controller for themember actuated by the speed of the carrier.

19. The combination of a rotary folding der, Swingin vary the length of.the sheetpathwith relation to the tucking blade as the cylinder speedvaries, and a controller for the member actuated by the cylinder speed.

20. The'combination of a rotary folding cylinder -havin a tucking blade,sheet holding devices on t e cylinder, flats on the cyliniingers movablebeyond the flats to vary t e length of the sheet path with relation tothe .tucking blade, rockI shafts'on which the fingers are mounted,centrifugal governors connected to the rock shafts, and.

springs for rocking the shafts to normally cause the lingers to be intheir out position.

"21. 'llhe combination of means for forwarding a web, means/for cuttingsheets therefrom, means for advancing the cut sheets at dierent speeds,folding mechalnism, and means for edecting a relative changebetween thesheet path and folding mechanism to cause the fold-to take place at thesame point in successive sheets irre'spec tive of their s cede.

22. 'llhecom ination of means for forwarding a web, means for cuttingsheets therefrom, means for `advancing the cut sheets at diderentspeeds, lfolding mecha-` nism, and means actuated by speed variation ofthe advancing means for eecting a relative change between the sheet athand folding mechanism whereby the old is caused to take place at thesame point in successive sheets irrespective of their speed.

23. The combination of a rotary carrier, sheet holding devices thereon,a` folding mechanism, means for varying the length of the sheet path onthe carrier, and means rotating with thecarrier for controlling the pathlength varying means as the carrier speed varies. y

24. 'llhe combination of a rotary cylinder to which sheets areforwarded, a folding mechanism, means for varying the length of thesheet path on the cylinder, and means operating independently of thefolding mechanism for controlling the path length varying means.

lin testimony whereof, ll have hereunto set my hand.

